The church of Llanbadarn Trefeglwys, also known as Llanbadarn Fach, is a plain rectangular building of stone and plaster, consisting of nave and turret, with spire, containing one bell. It was rebuilt in 1856. There are a 140 sittings.

It is enclosed by a sub-circular bank and wall measuring 65.0m east-west by 70.0m
north-south. Its age is indeterminate but has every indication of being a Neolithic henge.

It was founded by St Padarn a bishop in the 6th century and is probably the Crucis Agam mentioned in his Life. He was the son of Pedrun (Petronius) and the grandson of Emyr Llydaw. He was one of the most distinguished of the saints of Britain several churches are dedicated to him.

The word Trefeglwys suggests an early Celtic monastic settlement which would have been presided over by an abbot.

The Celtic Church was quite different from the Roman. While the Roman Church had a central authority the Celtic Church never did. Each monastery was seperate and held sway only over those churches that derived from its founding saint. There are other three other important differences. The Pelagian heresy ( which rejected Original Sin ) played a great part in Celtic beliefs, the date of Easter differed from that of Rome and the tonsure was cut across the head. Nevertheless, in 777 the Celtic Church yielded to Rome although in places like Llanbadarn and St David's it preserved its own character until the end of the eleventh century.

In 1287 the church became a Collegiate Church having a Prebend at Bishop Beck's College at Llanddewibrefi.

On the south side of the chancel on a black stone mural monument, is the following inscription-

The other side of the wall opposite this stone lieth the body of Hugh Lloyde of Wernddy Gent. decease'd Aug. 14th 1731 aged 39. Also the body of Anne his wife who dyed Septr. 2d 1741 aged 39.

The Reverend Thomas Huet, who assisted Bishop Richard Davies and William Salesbury in translating the Bible into Welsh, was Vicar from 1561 - 1599 when he was appointed Precentor of St David's Cathedral.

According to the Parish Register the Reverend Daniel Rowland, curate of Llangeithio, and one of the leaders of the Evangelical Movement in Wales preached in the Church on 22nd May 1737. His father had been Curate of the Parish in 1698.

The Registers date from 1719 and the Transcripts from 1678.

The Vicars, listed in the Church, are -

1554	Dafydd ap Jenkin
1559	Thomas Huet
1598	Griffin ap Richard
1636	William Jones
1673	James Lewis
1718	David Jones
1739	Howell Howell
1752	Vavasor SDavies
1793	Timothy Evans
1835	James James
1874	John Evan
1882	Thomas Jones
1902	David William Davies
1914	Rees David Rees
1931	Reginald Marker Rosser
1935	David Henry Evans
1940	William Rufus Jones
1951	David Lloyd Jones
1970	Ivor Thomas

I am indebted to the Warden of the Church, Mr William Jones, Penfarteg for his help in obtaing much of the above.

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